March 17, 2007
Part One: The Changing Landscape of the USFL
The 2007 season has not even begun yet and it already feels like the USFL is in transition. After expansion in 2006 and a 2nd wave coming in 2008, the USFL looked at the 2007 year as one which would build a bridge between the 24-team league of 2005 and the 28-team league that 2008 will bring. But, what could not be anticipated is that the offseason between 2006 and 2007 would prove to be one of the most disruptive in the league’s history. Sparked by the NFL’s new emphasis on regaining its position as the preeminent destination for top player talent, the USFL found itself with challenges on several fronts, from veteran quarterbacks being wooed to return to fall football to draft selections using the two leagues against each other. The end result of this tumultuous offseason is a league that may look very different from the 2006 season. Both starting quarterbacks from last year’s Summer Bowl are now NFL players, and several big moves reshaped the balance of power within the league. Not every team was directly impacted, but all 26 clubs in 2007 will be dealing with a very different USFL.
We begin our two-part preview of the 2007 USFL season, with a look at an offseason unlike any other. We will explore the moves that defined the past 6 months, recap a complex draft and signing period, rank the biggest USFL signings during January’s NFL-USFL Transfer window, and take one last look at the latest player moves across the league. In our second half, we will look forward, identifying the stories, players, and teams to keep an eye on in 2007, and, of course, we will make our picks for who will hold high the John Bassett Trophy come Summer Bowl 2007 in Arizona.
But let’s get started with this offseason’s top stories, the 10 boldest moves that defined this offseason and could define the year to come.
Ten Bold Moves That Could Shape the 2007 USFL Season
1) Memphis Signs Brett Favre
Fans in Birmingham are understandably furious. Not only did their Hall of Fame quarterback use the USFL’s retirement structure to get out of his contract with the Stallions, but after barely 18 months in the NFL, he returns to the USFL with the Stallion’s arch rival. It did not take long after the NY Jets cut Favre loose (after a threat of yet another retirement announcement) for the Memphis Showboats to start planning his signing. There were, of course, several teams considering a Favre signing, and certainly the USFL leadership wanted to see the All-USFL and All-NFL QB back in the fold, especially after losing several big name quarterbacks earlier in the offseason. But when the draft came along, and Memphis did not select JaMarcus Russell with the 2nd overall pick, as most predicted, it quickly became apparent that Memphis would push all their chips into the middle to acquire the quarterback who so often had crushed their hopes in past Showboat-Stallion battles.
Memphis began wooing Favre unofficially long before the NFL-USFL transfer window opened, and once it did, team representatives were on the case 24/7. It would take only 1 week of the 4-week period before Favre agreed to a 3-year deal which makes him the richest player in USFL history. Brett Favre would be returning to the USFL in 2007, and would be trading in his former life as a Stallion to now play for their arch rivals in Memphis. After little more than one season in New York, Favre returns to the south, and he returns to a team that has pieces in place that the former Stallion can work with. From a strong offensive line anchored by LT Mike Gandy and center Casey Rabach to a receiving corps that has been rebuilt over the past 2 seasons. This offseason, Memphis added two more targets in NFL veteran TE David Martin and rookie speedster Sidney Rice. Paired with Cadillac Williams in the run game, Memphis could be a team that jumps from basement to penthouse with Favre in place. Yes, fans in Birmingham are not happy, and we suspect that very soon those in New Orleans and Nashville will join them.
2) Chicago Hands the Keys to Brady Quinn
In an offseason where veteran quarterback moves were the headline stories, Chicago made a bold move to go in a new direction. With Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn within their protected draft pool, Chicago chose to move away from their 8-year starter, Jeff George, a starter who had taken them to a Summer Bowl only 1 year earlier. The Machine traded George to the Texas Outlaws, signaling that the 2007 Machine would be a very different team. With George gone, the starting job was open, and offered on a silver platter to the rookie out of South Bend. Chicago began negotiations with Quinn and his agent only 2 days after Notre Dame’s crushing loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. By the date in which teams reported their protected Territorial Draft picks to the league, a contract was all but signed and ready to go.
Brady Quinn will step with a team that saw its defense drop from elite to barely functional in 2006. He inherits an offense that has some talent in HB Michael Turner and receivers Donald Driver, Curtis Conway, Brandon Lloyd and Anthony Fasano. He will have to learn quickly if Chicago hopes to rebound after a 6-8 season, in a division that has strong contenders in both Michigan and Ohio. But the choice to “reload not rebuild” in Chicago opens the door for Quinn and the Machine.
3) Blow It All Up in the Steel City
Staying in the Central Division, one of the most drastic makeovers we have seen this offseason took place in Pittsburgh, where the Maulers gave Coach Ron Rivera carte blanche to reimagine the roster and the team philosophy, and he proved nothing was sacred. His first move occurred before the 2006 season had even ended, benching veteran QB Charlie Batch. By season’s end, Batch was released, and after a frustrating NFL-USFL portal that saw no team from either league sign him, he found himself a new member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Pittsburgh then made a deal with the Seattle Dragons, bringing Cody Pickett, a raw talent who has been very successful with the Dragons in limited play, to come in and assume the role of starting QB.
Were that the only change, then we would likely not be talking about the Maulers, but they then made another move that surprised many and clearly indicated a new direction. Rather than retain their top player, HB Terrell Davis, they used him as collateral, sending the 5-time All-USFL back to Atlanta for a player and two draft picks. A daring move, but one many figured meant that Pittsburgh was a serious player for either Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson or Cal’s Marshawn Lynch with that #1 pick. But only 2 days before the open draft, the Maulers traded again, this time landing former Panther Ladell Betts. While not a break away threat like the two rookies, Betts is also not a bench player who you put behind a rookie. Pittsburgh was not going to try to outbid the NFL for either rookie. They would zig when we all thought they would zag.
Pittsburgh would use that pick to select, and then sign, DT Amobi Okoye from Louisville. In doing so, they turned away several bids for the pick, stuck to their choice and got a player who will start on Day 1 for Ron Rivera’s defense. The Maulers then doubled down on the position, signing NFL DT Dan Klecko. The combined moves, along with the signings of former Steeler TE Mark Bruener and the drafting of three linebackers (Purdue’s Anthony Spencer, FSU’s Buster Davis, and Portland State’s Adam Hayward) clearly indicates that Rivera is hoping to build a team from the ground up, and from the defense first. Will they succeed? It is a gamble, with Pickett at QB and Betts at HB, what is certain is that this is no longer the 2006 club that finished 2-12.
4) Las Vegas Trades Up to Land a Superstar
When the Thunder signed Steve “Air” McNair last season, we had a feeling that Coach Jerry Glanville had not finished putting a stamp on this team. This year’s biggest draft-day move proved us right. Glanville and the Thunder, seeing that Pittsburgh had moved out of the HB derby, and confident that neither #2 Memphis nor #3 Washington were in the halfback market, swapped out their #13 pick for St. Louis’s #4 to get in the mix. This meant sending St. Louis the #13 pick, a 2nd rounder, and their lead back from 2006, Dominic Rhodes, but to get the man Glanville coveted, it seemed a very good deal.
Las Vegas was on the clock at #4 and they sent the card up with Marshawn Lynch’s name on it. Several teams were visibly frustrated by Las Vegas’s move, as most around the USFL felt that Lynch was both an elite talent and a player who would more likely sign with the USFL than Adrian Peterson, who had already expressed a preference for the NFL. Las Vegas got their man, gave up little that they valued to do so, and now enters 2007 as one of the teams people are watching for. The rest of their draft, though limited due to several trades, was still highly regarded, signing CB Eric Wright from nearby UNLV, TE Dante Rosario from Oregon, and an interesting WR prospect in John Broussard from San Jose State.
The Thunder had also signed TE Ben Hartsook from the Showboats, and would go on to add NFL linebacker Orlando Huff and FB Ovie Mughelli later in the month, but it would be this move, the one that shook up the 1st round of the draft, that would get the Thunder on the lips of every draft analyst in the league.
5) Orlando Outmaneuvers Two Leagues for Brees
Before the Brett Favre news, the biggest QB success for the USFL was clearly the court case that essentially demonstrated that the NFL, and the New Orleans Saints, had jumped the gun on the August transfer window by communicating with QB Drew Brees before the start date of permissible transfers. The beneficiary, rather than being Brees’s original team, the Michigan Panthers, was Orlando. The Renegades, who many had not even considered a QB-strapped team, with Jeff Blake in place, made the decision to woo Brees heavily, and outpaced the rest of the league to get Brees in Orlando as soon as the court decision came down. They would go on to trade Blake to Seattle, acquiring a defensive player and a draft pick in the deal. Orlando went from an afterthought to a hot pick as a darkhorse this year thanks to the move. They would later add HB Najeh Davenport from the NFL Steelers, and land the best TE prospect in the draft, Miami’s Greg Olsen. And while both moves are solid upgrades for the Renegades, the signing of Brees is the story of the year in Orlando and could be a story to follow in the USFL Southern Division all season long.
6) Washington Goes on Offense
With the retirement of Bill Parcells in New Jersey, and the decision by the Generals to promote defensive coordinator Romeo Crennell to the head spot, young offensive coordinator Sean Payton suddenly became a hot prospect, and Washington, shifting gears after years of being seen as a defensive-minded team, jumped at the chance to sign the young play caller. Payton signed a deal to become the Federals’ next head coach, replacing Kurt Schottenheimer, who was let go after only 1 season in the big chair.
Payton, known for his innovative schemes, and for the development of QB Tom Brady, immediately started focusing on the pathetic 2006 Washington offense, an offense that scored only 11 touchdowns in 14 games last year. He drafted three offensive guards in 7 rounds, signing all three. He also drafted two players at Tight End. He then went out and snagged a 2nd wide receiver to put opposite Deion Branch, picking up Buffalo’s Andre Davis in the NFL transfer window. He finished his signing spree by adding center Austin King (formerly of Boston), and signing the best lead blocker in the free agent pool, former Dragon Chris Massey.
The Federals will still rely heavily on Kordell Stewart and Deuce McCallister on offense, but it seems clear that Payton is not going to be content with a defensive squad that grinds out wins by staying close in games. He wants to start showing some fireworks to Federal fans.
6) Draft Day Deals Bring Big Names to the USFL
While the Las Vegas Thunder got the most bang for their draft day buck, making the big move up to #4, theirs was hardly the only move of note. Chicago, having received Texas’s #1 pick in the Jeff George deal, went defense-defense with the #5 and #8 picks. They were unable to sign #6 pick Gaines Adams from Clemson (now an NFL Jaguar) but landing safety Eric Weddle with #8.
The other big 1st round move was made by the Nashville Knights, who moved back up for a 2nd pick after choosing safety LaRon Landry at #12. They traded away their 2nd and 4th round picks this year, and a 4th next year to get back into the 1st round at #25, getting Los Angeles’s penultimate pick in the round, and selecting WR Steve Smith from USC. Sadly, while this was a big news story on draft day, it may not have worked out just as Nashville had hoped. Smith would sign with the NY Giants, meaning that Nashville had sent two picks to the Express for naught. LA would benefit, signing CB Dante Hughes with that 2nd round pick, and still have a pick next year.
Finally, in the crapshoot that is the USFL Draft, when players can upset the apple cart by signing with the NFL, sometimes a longshot pays off. That certainly was the case for Baltimore, which ignored the rumors that Ted Ginn Jr, the firecracker of a wideout from Ohio State, was not looking to sign with the USFL, but had his eyes set on the NFL. It was that rumor which led Ohio to bypass Ginn in the T-Draft and sign Anthony Gonzalez instead. Well, the Blitz must have had different insight into Ginn’s thinking, because they drafted Ginn 9th overall, to quite a few gasps in the room, but 8 days later, Ginn was signed and on his way to Baltimore for training camp. Goes to show that sometimes you just need to trust in your scouting and pick the player, not the potential for signing.
7) Oakland Invests in Joey’s Success
When the Invaders gave Joey Harrington the last few starts in 2006, most suspected that Trent Green, who was due to become a free agent, had played his last games in sky and gold. When Green signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, it was official. Coach Dennis Green would trust in Joey Harrington, the QB who came to Oakland as a backup after an up-and-down saga in Orlando. So what do you do to help the new starter succeed? You put good players around him.
Oakland did just that this offseason, drafting 2 receivers in Virginia Tech’s David Clowney and tiny Lane College’s standout receiver Jacoby Jones. You also provide him with some protection, so how about adding the best pass-blocking guard available, regular All-USFL talent Ruben Brown of the Stars. With Ricky Williams, Plaxico Burress, and Greg Jennings already in the fold, it looks like Oakland is doing all it can to provide Harrington with a strong second act.
8) Arizona Not Sitting Pat
There was no one move that made heads turn towards Phoenix this offseason, but what we did see was a constant stream of news out of Glendale. The Arizona Wranglers, not content with a rebound season in 2006 that saw them jump back up to 10 wins, made more moves than any other team to rework their roster. First, they added depth in the free agent pool, signing players like QB Jim Sorgi, HB Ahmaad Galloway, corner Ray Crockett, and guard Benji Olsen, but they also signed more draft picks than any other USFL Club, landing 5 of 7 Open Draft selections as well as 2 of 3 T-Draft picks.
Among the rookie haul we have top tier talent like Nebraska DE Adam Carriker, HBs Chris Henry (Arizona) and Antonio Pittman (Ohio State) and Alabama fullback Le’Ron McClain, but they also solved their kicker dilemma with another T-Draft selection, Arizona’s Nick Folk. Then, as if that were not enough, they remained active in the NFL-USFL Transfer Window, picking up three NFL vets: Corner Duane Starks from the Raiders, DE Joe Tafoya from Seattle, and LB Napoleon Harris from the Vikings. All in all a total of 11 new faces coming to camp (actually more like 20, but some are viewed as camp fodder or practice squad candidates only), and faces that are expected to be seen on the field in 2007 at that.
9) New Jersey Goes Back to Square One
We cannot talk about the 2006 offseason without discussing what happened to the 2006 league champion. New Jersey, perhaps more than any other team this year, suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune these past few months. It began with the announcement that Bill Parcells would retire from his role as the Head Coach in East Rutherford. The Big Tuna departed having brought two titles to the Generals in the past 3 years. There was heated debate as to which of his coordinators would step into the Head Coach role, and while many applauded the decision to promote Romeo Crennell into the position, there were many who felt New Jersey dropped the ball by letting Sean Payton leave, not only to another USFL team, but to a division rival in Washington.
Then came the second shoe dropping, Tom Brady was wooed, and paid handsomely by USFL-antagonist Jerry Jones, to leave the defending champions and sign on with the NFL. This was the first of the major QB departure shockwaves that would rattle the league this year, but in New Jersey it was not just a shock, it was a disaster. Brady had been the lynchpin of the Generals offense, a calm presence at the QB position that on too many occasions to count had led New Jersey back at the end of games to help them win not one, but two titles. Brady was now gone and the Generals would have to focus on QB in the offseason, a position they rarely considered in recent years.
Can a third shoe drop? If so, it did when Deion Sanders, the All-USFL corner who locked down Tory Holt in the league title game, also signed with the NFL, this time the 49ers. Sanders, widely considered the best corner in the game, was also gone from the title team. It would take New Jersey the full offseason to find solutions for both departures, and many are not sure that the solutions they developed are going to succeed.
The Generals signed CB Nate Clements away from the Buffalo Bills in the NFL transfer window, but while Clements is a very solid corner, he is not Deion Sanders, and the General defense will not be able to pretend he is. The situation at QB is even murkier for New Jersey. The expectation is that former NFL vet Kelly Holcombe will start the season under center, but New Jersey muddied the waters a bit with their drafting and signing of University of Houston QB Kevin Kolb. There is a lot to like in Kolb, but as we have seen with past Houston QB’s (Andre Ware and David Klingler come to mind), success in the spread offense of Houston against Sun Belt and Conference USA foes does not always translate into a successful pro career.
Fans in New Jersey are shell-shocked. They went from celebrating a title and talking dynasty to wondering if they could find themselves in the basement of a very balanced and very tough Northeast Division. There is anger, frustration, and desperation in a fanbase that had become somewhat accustomed to a status quo of success and a clear plan moving forward. If any team is looking at this offseason with great negativity, it is New Jersey.
10—A Changing Wind?
If there is one thing that we did not expect to change this offseason it is the fact that both Boston and Ohio would dedicate themselves to adding yet more offensive firepower in an attempt to simply overwhelm their opponents. However, it seems that playoff losses this past July may have sent a different message to coaches John Fox and Al Luginbill. While there were some offensive pieces added to both clubs (Penn State HB Tony Hunt to Boston and Buckey WR Anthony Gonzalez to Ohio), the clear emphasis this offseason was on trying to get some gamebreakers on defense.
Two of the biggest defensive free agent signings of the offseason went to the two offensive-minded clubs. Hugh Douglas, considered perhaps the best speed rusher in the league, signed with the Boston Cannons, where he will join Jason Babin and Casey Hampton on the Cannon D-Line. Ohio wanted to improve against the run, and they went two players deep to do so. Ohio added both former Mauler Luther Ellis and former Bandit Sean Gilbert to their defensive interior. That combo may well now be the best in the league against the inside run, forcing teams to try to run outside and deal with Ohio’s linebackers. Yes, Gilbert is likely a 1-2 year solution at best, but if Boston, as many suspect, is looking to go all in this year, he is certainly a big part of any defensive plan.
If either Ohio or Boston can maintain their offensive explosiveness and also bulk up on defense, these two powers of the league could become the instant favorites to meet in Arizona for Summer Bowl 2007. Yes, we know that having a team on paper does not always mean winning on the field, but these moves seem to indicate that both clubs are looking at 2007 as a now-or-never proposition.
College Draft & Signings Recap
We highlighted the draft with some of our Top 10 Blockbuster Offseason Moves, but with the player signing period coming to a close and all teams in camp ahead of the season start in 2 weeks, it seems appropriate to look back at the Territorial and Open Drafts and see just how well each team fared. As always, the NFL factor was huge, as we saw 14 of the 26 first round USFL picks sign with the fall league. And yet, there are some teams that did very well, and some players who could be immediate impact performers on USFL squads. So, as we look at each team (in the order of their 1st round picks before any trading), we will look at how they fared in the 1st round, then overall, and name one player we think could make a name for themselves this season.
PITTSBURGH
1st Round Story: The Maulers passed on a high risk HB pick and went with a defensive need and a player they knew would sign in Louisville DT Amobi Okoye. Expect him to start Week 1 for the Thunder.
Rookies Reporting: Six of ten draftees signed with the Maulers, including 3 LBs and longshot Pitt QB Tyler Palko.
Impact Rookie: Okoye is the obvious choice, but we also like LB Buster Davis of FSU to find some time on the field for Coach Rivera’s defense.
MEMPHIS
1st Round Story: Memphis passing on JaMarcus Russell was a clear sign that they had an inside track on Brett Favre. The player they did land is an immediate impact performer and a local star, Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis.
Rookies Reporting: Memphis signed 7 of 10 draftees, including Willis, DE Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas, DE Quentin Moses of Georgia, and WR Sidney Rice of So. Carolina, for a very SEC feel to this year’s draft.
Impact Rookie: Both Willis and Rice are immediate starters, and we think both DE’s also have a shot to get into the defensive gameplan for new head coach Jim Haslett.
WASHINGTON
1st Round Story: The first NFL signing of the draft as Washington’s top pick, Wisconsin LT Joe Thomas goes #1 overall to the Cleveland Browns and heads off to Ohio. Thomas was always a risk,
and yet Kordell Stewart needs protection to be effective, so we understand the pick.
Rookies Reporting: Other than Thomas, the Feds did pretty well, landing 6 of 11 picks. Included in that 7 are three guards, including Tennessee’s Arron Sears and Purdue’s Uche Nwaneri.
Impact Rookie: Despite the number of picks the Feds had, we predict no Week 1 starters in their rookie crop. DE Charles Johnson (UGA) should see some action in rotation.
ST. LOUIS
1st Round Story: The Skyhawks were looking at Marshawn Lynch for themselves, but were not sold, so when Las Vegas offered 2 picks and a player to move up, the Skyhawks went for quantity, dropping from #4 to #13, where they took a flyer on LSU QB JaMarcus Russell, who fell quite far but opted to sign with the LA Raiders of the NFL.
Rookies Reporting: The Skyhawks did not fare well in the Open Draft, landing only 3 of 8 picks. They did much better in the T-Draft where both Louisville products, HB Michael Bush and CB William Gay signed on for St. Louis.
Impact Rookie: We see a lot of potential for Bush, who will begin the year splitting carries with former Thunder HB Dominic Rhodes.
PHILADELPHIA
1st Round Story: Philadelphia could not land FSU LB Lawrence Timmons, who would go on to sign with the cross-state and cross-league Steelers.
Rookies Reporting: The stars struggled with signing most of their Open Draft picks. They did land TE Brent Celek from Cincinnati, OT Ken Shackleford of Georgia, and QB Matt Gutierrez of Idaho State, but their biggest success was signing both Penn State LB’s, Paul Posluszny and Tim Shaw.
Impact Rookie: Pencil in “Poz”, Paul Posluszny to start the season as the MLB in the Stars’ 4-3 scheme. He could be a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate for Coach Harbaugh.
TEXAS
1st Round Story: Texas traded away their #1 pick (#6 overall) in the deal that brought Jeff George to San Antonio. While we understand the motivation to bring in a known winner at QB, it feels like a steep price to pay.
Rookies Reporting: After not having a 1st round pick, Texas also failed to sign their 2nd or 3rd round selections, leaving them a bit bare. CB David Irons in the 6th could be a good value, and they did pick up two other decent prospects in the T-Draft with UT’s Aaron Ross (CB) and Tim Crowder (DE).
Impact Rookie: No starters, at least not right away. Expect Ross to see some time at nickel, that is if David Irons does not beat him out in the final week of camp.
ORLANDO
1st Round Story: Orlando selected and signed a new safety valve for their new QB. We think Drew Brees and Greg Olsen are going to become quite a combo for the Renegades. Olsen can stretch the field against linebackers and can post out safeties, making him a matchup problem.
Rookies Reporting: Orlando signed 6 of 12 picks over the 10 rounds of T-Draft and Open Draft, but other than Olsen, we don’t see much immediate impact here.
Impact Rookie: We are still a bit confused about why Orlando went with Oregon State QB Matt Moore in the 7th and final round. I guess it helps to have a young QB on the practice squad to simulate the opposition’s starter.
CHICAGO
1st Round Story: Chicago got 2 picks in the first 8 thanks to the Jeff George trade. Pick #6 was DE Gaines Adams of Clemson. Pick #8 was safety Eric Weddle of Utah. Gaines jumped to the NFL but Weddle is signed, and could split time with Leomont Evans from the start of the year.
Rookies Reporting: Chicago had 12 picks in 10 rounds, thanks to the Texas deal, but only 5 signed, including Weddle. Of course, when two of them are Golden Domers Brady Quinn and DE Victor Abiamiri, it is still a pretty good draft.
Impact Rookie: Quinn seems the obvious choice, but keep an eye on OK State WR D’Juan Woods, who could be named the 3rd or slot receiver for the Machine, despite being only a 7th round pick.
BALTIMORE
1st Round Story: Baltimore took a shot at a player many had shied away from, thinking he was NFL bound, but the right combo of incentives, and a QB that can fire lasers helped bring Ted Ginn Jr to the Blitz. A bit of a coup with the 9th pick.
Rookies Reporting: In addition to Ginn, we like the signings of safety Aaren Rouse (Va Tech) and OG Andy Alleman (Akron),. The rest of the pool is depth more than impact.
Impact Rookie: Expect Baltimore to have Ginn start at the slot and to handle a lot of punt and kick returns. The more ways they can get the ball in his hands, the better for a club that has lacked explosiveness.
OAKLAND
1st Round Story: The Invaders hoped they could land the best corner in the draft, and they negotiated for a good 2 weeks with his agent, but in the end Darrelle Revis opted to stay on the East Coast, moving from Pittsburgh to the Big Apple to play for the NY Jets.
Rookies Reporting: Oakland was a bit more conservative with their remaining picks, and was able to sign 6 players from their draft, including a good looking WR in Lane College’s Jacoby Jones. Cal LB Desmond Bishop and Stanford LB Michael Okwo should see some action this year.
Impact Rookie: No immediate starters, but we like Jacoby Jones’s versatility and work ethic. He could see the field in some multiple receiver sets.
BIRMINGHAM
1st Round Story: If Oakland going for Revis was a risk, Birmingham picking Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson was a shot in the dark. Small market, poor QB play, and a coach on the hot seat are not the types of enticements that would bring Johnson to Birmingham, even if his NFL option was the Detroit Lions.
Rookies Reporting: The Stallions had significant difficulties signing their picks. In the end, they got 3 players from the state of Alabama, the best of which was Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, but missed on most others.
Impact Rookie: Grubbs will start on the right side for the Stallions, but we see him projecting to LG within 1-2 years.
NASHVILLE
1st Round Story: Nashville had an up-and-down first round, picking LSU safety LaRon Landry with the #12 pick and then trading up with LA to select USC wideout Steve Smith at #25. Landry would sign with the Knights, but Smith was a failed effort, landing in the NFL.
Rookies Reporting: The move up to #25 cost Nashville several picks in the draft, and they ended up signing only 1 additional Open Draft pick, 3rd rounder, guard Manuel Ramirez. Their best pick might have been in the T-Draft where they landed Vols WR Robert Meachem.
Impact Rookie: Nashville needed quality at WR and they think they have it with Meachem, who is already slated to start opposite Derrick Mason. With Emmanuel gone, Meachem has big shoes to fill.
LAS VEGAS
1st Round Story: Las Vegas was the story of the first round, making the big move up from 13 to 4 to select Marshawn Lynch, the multifaceted Cal HB. Lynch would sign with Coach Glanville’s Thunder and bring a lot of excitement with him to Sin City.
Rookies Reporting: Other than Lynch, things did not go so well. Las Vegas had reduced picks in the Open Draft, signing only WR John Broussard of San Jose State. They did land two solid prospects in the T-Draft with TE Dante Rosario (Oregon) and CB Eric Wright from UNLV.
Impact Rookie: Lynch is the key to the entire draft for the Thunder. If he pans out, then the Thunder will look like geniuses. If he flames out, then heads will roll.
DENVER
1st Round Story: A very quiet draft for the Gold. No trades, no big shocks, and no first round signing, as their pick, Texas safety Michael Griffin opted to sign on with the Tennessee Copperheads in the NFL.
Rookies Reporting: Denver was another team that only landed 2 of 7 Open Draft picks. DT Brandon Mebane of Cal could be a solid contributor. QB Jordan Palmer of UTEP in the 5th round felt like a stretch. They did land their kicker in the T-Draft, Colorado’s Mason Crosby.
Impact Rookie: Crosby is the only obvious pick here. He will be the kicker when the season starts, and we know he knows how to kick in altitude after a stellar career in Boulder.
ATLANTA
1st Round Story: The third of 5 straight failed 1st round picks (#13-17) as Florida DE Jarvis Moss opted to sign with the Broncos when he was their 1st rounder.
Rookies Reporting: Again only 2 of 7 Open Draft picks signed with Atlanta. We like guard Justin Blalock of Texas. But he may be the only player to see the field this year from a pretty weak draft.
Impact Rookie: We just don’t see any. QB Tyler Thigpen form Coastal Carolina is an interesting prospect, as is Georgia safety Tra Battle, but we expect both to spend more time with the practice squad than the starters.
MICHIGAN
1st Round Story: Michigan also went D-Line and also failed to land their first pick, Tennessee DT Justin Harrell. Harrell chose the frozen tundra of Green Bay over the climate control of Ford Field. Not a move I generally would recommend.
Rookies Reporting: Michigan, still reeling from the Drew Brees fiasco, did land a potential starter in Michigan State QB Drew Stanton. Expect him to spend most of the year behind Wolverine QB Brian Griese, but by next March, he could well be the starter for the Panthers. WR Laurent Robinson and CB Leon Hall (Michigan) could contribute this year.
Impact Rookie: The WR Room is a crowded one for the Panthers, so Robinson could get stuck in the wash behind Hines Ward, Laverneus Coles, Antwan Randle-El, and Charles Rogers, but he might still find a way into the mix if he can keep up his effort level from camp.
SEATTLE
1st Round Story: The fifth of five straight NFL signings as 1st round pick, OT Tony Ugoh from Arkansas opted to join the Indianapolis Colts.
Rookies Reporting: While we like the skills of WR Dwayne Jarrett (USC) and TE Tyler Ecker (Michigan), signing only 4 rookies is not what you want out of a draft.
Impact Rookie: Jarrett should see the field early on, at least in 3-4 receiver sets. Ecker will learn under Jeramy Stevens, which is not a bad way to come into the league.
TAMPA BAY
1st Round Story: The Bandits break the bad streak by coming to a 4-year deal with their pick, Penn State tackle Levi Brown. Brown will step into the starting lineup right away, lining up on the right side.
Rookies Reporting: The only other potential impact pick by the Bandits was safety Brandon Merriweather, who likely waits behind Idrees Basheer, but can contribute on special teams.
Impact Rookie: Brown is a road grater of a tackle, so expect a lot of McGahee runs to his side of the line.
NEW ORLEANS
1st Round Story: Eventually someone had to try, and it took 19 picks, but New Orleans decided to be the team to try their luck with OU halfback Adrian Peterson. It was a no-go, as Peterson kept to his word, signing with the Minnesota Vikings. He would have been a day 1 starter for the Breakers, who now look to split carries between Troy Davis, Julius Jones and another rookie, Auburn’s Kenny Irons.
Rookies Reporting: After taking a shot on Peterson, it was smart for New Orleans to pick Irons in the 2nd round. They also did well to sign their top T-Draft pick, WR Dwayne Bowe of LSU.
Impact Rookie: Expect both Irons and Bowe to see action early, with the big LSU receiver impressing many at Breaker camp, and possibly starting the year 2nd on the depth chart, lining up opposite Keenan McCardell, with Hakeem in the slot.
OHIO
1st Round Story: Another NFL signing as Ohio’s obsession with rookie wide receivers does not pan out. LSU wideout Craig Davis opts for the NFL, meaning no new face for Drew Bledsoe to throw to.
Rookies Reporting: Ohio was the clear loser in this year’s draft, landing only 1 Open Draft pick, a 6th rounder in Rutgers guard Darnell Stephenson. They did sign Ohio State receiver Anthony Gonzalez, but with Baltimore landing Ted Ginn Jr, who Ohio had written off, this year’s draft looks like a bust for the Glory.
Impact Rookie: Gonzalez has not been able to unseat Sinorice Moss (last year’s Buckeye wideout signing) in camp, just as he could not beat him out when the two were both at OSU.
ARIZONA
1st Round Story: A good pick, and a need position as Arizona signs Nebraska DE Adam Carriker. The Husker should see a lot of action on run downs at first, but could become a 3-down player within a year or two.
Rookies Reporting: Arizona did quite well, signing 7 of 10 picks, including Carriker, HB Antonio Pittman of Ohio State, FB Le’Ron McClain of Alabama (generally viewed as the best FB prospect in the draft) and also landing their new kicker, Nick Folk, in the T-Draft.
Impact Rookie: We did not mention HB Chris Henry of Arizona, but both Henry and Pittman will see carries. Of the two, we think Pittman will have the more immediate impact and could become the lead back in what is a bit of a murky HB group right now.
BOSTON
1st Round Story: Boston really emphasized defense this year, and the draft was no difference. Problem is their #1 pick, LB Jon Beason of Miami, opted to stay a bit closer to home and sign with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL.
Rookies Reporting: Other than missing on Beason, Boston did quite well with 6 signings, including Penn State HB Tony Hunt, NC State DT DeMarcus Tyler, and three O-linemen.
Impact Rookie: Hunt will likely spell Tiki Barber, who finally won the rushing title last year, but who may be looking to not lead the league in attempts as he enters his mid-30’s.
HOUSTON
1st Round Story: The Gamblers want to help Matt Hasselbeck out with more O-line help, and they got their man, Central Michigan OT Joe Staley. Staley will likely act as a swing tackle, subbing on either side of the line this year as needed.
Rookies Reporting: In addition to Staley, Houston signed UCF wideout Mike Sims-Walker, who is already slated to serve as the slot receiver and could also return kicks. LB Zak DeOssie could be a steal in the 4th round. The Brown standout is a solid player out of a smaller school. Finally, HB Jackie Battle may not see the ball much, but expect him to be a gunner on kick coverage.
Impact Rookie: Houston is very high on Sims-Walker, putting him in the slot despite the presence of Koren Robinson and Bethel Johnson as options.
JACKSONVILLE
1st Round Story: No go for Jacksonville and their pick, DE LaMarr Woodley, would opts to join the Steelers next fall. The good news for the bulls isthat they were able to sign 4 of their next 5 picks.
Rookies Reporting: Second rounder, DT Alan Branch, is a solid signing, as are FSU HB Lorenzo Booker and LB Anthony Waters.
Impact Rookie: The Bulls also snagged themselves a kicker in UCLA’s Justin Medlock. Along with Arizona and Denver, that makes 3 rookies who will be their team’s opening day kickers.
LOS ANGELES
1st Round Story: A bad year for the Express, losing Cade McNown to the NFL, got worse as they thought they had a sure thing in BYU's John Beck, the 3rd QB taken. They did not. They also wiffed on San Jose State WR James Jones in the 3rd, two picks they wish they could have back.
Rookies Reporting: LA did sign some talent, particularly T-Draft pick center Ryan Kalil of USC, and 2nd round pick Dante Hughes of Cal.
Impact Rookie: Kalil should get plenty of reps this year, but Center was not the position of greatest need.
NEW JERSEY
1st Round Story: Like LA, the Generals’ greatest need was a QB to replace the one they lost to the NFL. Signing first round pick Kevin Kolb puts New Jersey in a better position than LA, but the Generals are still planning on starting former NFL QB Kelly Holcombe this year.
Rookies Reporting: Beyond Kolb, the best signing for the Generals was Iowa OT Marshal Yanda. He won’t start this year, but depth at tackle is vital when the QB’s you have are not known for their scrambling or dual threat capacity. We also love the T-Draft nod to USFL history, taking the nephew of USFL HOF DE Junior Ah You, C.J. Ah You.
Impact Rookie: Yanda is the most likely to see a lot of reps, but a player who could slip under the radar and see some field time is 4th rounder Steve Breaston. The wideout form Michigan is not a speed burner, but he runs good routes and finds ways to get open.
NFL-USFL Transfer Window
After the USFL Draft, with all its hits and near misses, the 26 USFL club had two options to address roster gaps, they could pick from the remaining free agents within the shrinking pool, or they could explore options when the NFL-USFL Transfer window opened. For many clubs, this was their best shot to acquire a key player in a needed position as there were only a few top level free agents left in the USFL pool. And while the pool of NFL players was nowhere near as robust as the USFL pool had been back in August, there was quality to be found. Here is our list of the Top 10 players picked up by USFL squads, players likely to be seeing the field in a week, when regular season action begins.
10—Arizona signed two NFL defenders who could play key roles in their attempt to capture the Pacific division. Former Raider CB Duane Starks is very likely to join Asante Samuel and Jimmy Williams in nickel or dime packages while DE Joe Tafoya adds depth behind Gary Walker and Chike Okeafor, though rookie Adam Carriker Is also in the mix there.
9—Birmingham brought in another young, athletic QB to compete with Jason Campbell. Anthony Wright, the former backup in Cincinnati, is something of a Campbell duplicate, which makes sense if Coach Franchione wants to motivate Campbell, or if Campbell goes down, the Stallions can run the same offense.
8—Boston added a pro-bowl quality tackle in Marco Colombo from the Cowboys. Expect Colombo to start at RT in Week 1 and to rotate over to LT if anything were to happen to Stockar McDougle.
7—Washington thinks they may have found a #2 receiver in former Bill Andre Davis. Davis comes over to the Federals and will rotate with Mike Williams, who Washington received in trade from Pittsburgh last year.
6—Pittsburgh got a possible impact player on both sides of the ball with DT Dan Klecko immediately working his way into the defensive plans and TE Mark Bruener expected to challenge Alge Crumpler for playing time.
5—Orlando added another big back to pair with Sedrick Irvin, landing former Steeler Najeh Davenport. Very much in the same mold as Irvin, Davenport will be used often in short yardage situations.
4—Oakland focused on defense, signing Rams’ DT Jason Fisk and Jaguars’ CB Deon Grant. Fisk will pair with Joe Salave’a in the 4-3, while Grant could move into the #2 or perhaps even the #1 slot in a secondary that still lacks both experience and pedigree.
3—New Orleans backs up Eli Manning with former Buccaneer QB Tim Rattay. Rattay, a product of Louisiana Tech is both a local boy and a player who showed some sparks in the NFL, particularly in his time with the 49ers.
2—Memphis obviously hit the motherload with Brett Favre, but they also brought in a solid target for Favre, signing Packer TE David Martin. Martin will rotate with veteran Walter Rasby in the TE slot.
1—Las Vegas probably landed the best 1-2 punch in the NFL pool, landing a bonafide starter on both sides of the ball. They found a perfect lead man for rookie Marshawn Lynch, landing former Baltimore Raven FB Ovie Mughelli, a bulldozer of a fullback. On defense they brought in former Cardinal LB Orlando Huff, who is projected to take line up with A.J. Hawk and Joey Porter to form a dangerous LB group.
Other signings of note include center Shaun O’Hara (Giants to Outlaws), HB Kenny Watson (Bengals to Glory), CB Nate Clements (Bills to Generals), DE David Bowens (Dolphins to Bulls), and LB Rocky Boiman (Colts to Machine),
Late Free Agent News
With camps open and several quality free agents still available, late adds were inevitable, and there were some that can certainly impact the 2007 season as some of the older veterans found that they were not drawing the market they expected and would have to lower their asking price.
The biggest name in the bunch had to be DT Sean Gilbert, who, at 34 is a short term answer, but he found a home with the Ohio Glory, a team that has a definite “win now” attitude. Another veteran who found a new home just as camps opened was LB Craig Powell, who will move form the Skyhawks to the Breakers. Wide receiver was a popular late signing as we saw several find new homes. These include R.J. Soward (Bulls to Feds), Alex Van Dyke (Stallions to Outlaws), Danny Farmer (Feds to Bandits), and Bobby Shaw (Panthers to Knights).
The only QB still on anyone’s board, former Chicago backup Ray Lucas, joins the Invaders, who were looking for a veteran presence behind Joey Harrington. Among running backs, only 2 more found homes, with Jonathan Wells headed to the Feds and R. J. Redmond joining another initial-heavy back (T.J. Duckett) in San Antonio with the Outlaws.
It was not a good free agency for players over 33 as several remain unsigned. That includes names like tackle Antoine Davis (36), Safety Marquez Pope (36), DE John Copeland (34), and LB Derek Smith (33). Some will likely file for retirement if a signing is not eminent, others will likely hold out to see if injuries push teams to add a mid-season replacement. And, there is always the CFL, which could snatch up a few players in the interim.
That is the offseason that was. A lot of movement, a lot of stress for USFL clubs, and a lot of uncertainty as teams try to move their way upward, but often find themselves falling behind. Who will take a step forward in 2007, getting closer to their hopes for a title? Who will fall from their 2006 position? Just how impactful will the NFL surge in signings be? Who recovered and found ways to reconfigure their squads for success, and who is struggling? Our second article of this 25th USFL Season Preview will look ahead, assess the rosters of each team, their prospects, and the stories to follow as we prepare to kick off spring football for the 25th time.
Should make for a very exciting season!!